A READING woman whose mum died last year addressed parliament last week to raise awareness of the difference good palliative care and grief support can make.
Twenty-year-old Naomi Barlow, was speaking as part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, hosted by Sue Ryder with Hospice UK, Marie Curie, The National Bereavement Alliance and Together for Short Lives.
Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice cared for Naomi’s mum, Rachel, and Naomi says she will never forget the expert support they received.
“When we got a phone call saying there was a bed available at the hospice it all happened so quickly,” she said.
“I was a bit scared about what the hospice would be like as you think of hospices as somewhere people go to die but they did everything they could to make us feel comfortable.”
Alongside Naomi at the parliamentary event was Sue Ryder’s chief medical director, Dr Paul Perkins, who spoke about the importance of good palliative care.
“The event was really powerful and attended by parliamentarians, people with lived experience of palliative and end-of-life care, and those working in hospices across the UK,” he said.
“It was a unique chance for our decision makers to understand people’s experiences, as well as what political parties can do to ensure everyone can access the right care and support.
“We were so fortunate to have Naomi join us bravely giving her voice to aid conversations around death, dying and grief with everyone in the room.”
By sharing her story, Naomi hopes she can encourage political decision-makers to consider how they can ensure everyone receives the best possible care and support at the end of life, and through bereavement, particularly as a general election for the next government has been called for July 4.
She said: “There was so much the hospice could offer and so much that goes on behind the scenes. It’s just a shame that the importance of hospices and what they do often isn’t fully appreciated until you actually need their services.”
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